Money on the markets

BSE realty index rises

The BSE Realty Index pared early losses and closed 5.6 percent higher in a volatile Tuesday session.

Government data showed infrastructure sector output grew 7.0 percent in October from a year earlier, faster than an upwardly revised annual growth of 2.7 percent in September.

Orbit Corp, Indiabulls Real Estate and DLF were among the top gainers in the realty index, rising 13.9 percent, 8.4 percent and 7 percent respectively.

Do you think the atmosphere is conducive for investment in this sector?

Reliance Industries gains

Reliance Industries gained 3.7 percent on Monday, recovering from the recent underperformance.

Shares in India’s top listed firm closed at 998.2 rupees after helping the benchmark index gain more than 200 points.

Shares in real estate firms drop

Shares of real estate developers came under pressure on Thursday following the arrest of top public sector bankers the previous evening on corruption charges.

The CBI on Wednesday arrested five officials from state-run listed companies, including the chief executive of LIC Housing Finance, for taking bribes to facilitate large corporate loans.

The BSE Realty Index closed 5.4 pct down, with DB Realty, HDIL and Unitech dropping 10 pct, 9.7 pct and 6 pct respectively.

The realty sector has been underperforming since the Reserve Bank of India raised rates earlier this month, and the graft scandal has further dampened sentiments.

Do you think it is the right time to invest in this sector?

Bank index falls on probe report

The banking index ended 2.9 percent lower on reports pointing to a probe into loans issued by some financial institutions, adding to investor nervousness.

After market hours, the CBI arrested eight top officials from banks and financial firms on charges of taking bribes to grant corporate loans.

Shares in LIC Housing Finance closed 18.32 percent lower, while Central Bank of India ended 8 percent lower.

Today’s arrests dealt another blow to Indian markets which are already under pressure from a multi-billion dollar telecoms scam.

Do you think bank stocks are going to fall tomorrow?

RIL falls, weak day for oil & gas stocks

Shares in Reliance Industries, which have the heaviest weight in the benchmark index, closed 1.7 percent lower on Tuesday. The BSE Oil & Gas Index closed 1.69 percent lower.

Indian markets struggled as as military tensions in Korea, a local corruption scandal and Ireland’s financials troubles spooked investors.

Other oil & gas counters like IOC slipped nearly 5 percent, while Aban Offshore slipped 4.1 percent.

Do you think it is worth entering this sector?

SKS Microfinance shares rise

Shares in microlender SKS Microfinance rose 5.75 percent to close at 714.45 rupees on Monday.

Shares took a beating on Thursday and fell 20 percent after the lender said the new regulations could squeeze profit and revenue. However, SKS on Friday said its balance sheet was healthy.

Rating agency CRISIL on Monday put 12 microfinance institutions on rating watch with negative implications, saying recent events can damage the business models of these firms.

Since October, shares in the firm have fallen more than 18 percent. Will you take advantage of this fall and invest in SKS?

Realty stocks end lower

It was not a great day for markets and real estate stocks especially, as the sectoral index slipped 3.84 percent.

Indiabulls Real Estate ended down 5.86 percent, followed by DB Realty which slipped 4.6 percent.

Top firms like Unitech and DLF also ended lower, losing 4.5 percent and 3.5 percent respectively. Real estate firm Unitech has a telecoms joint venture with Norway’s Telenor.

Would you take advantage of this fall and enter this sector? Or will you stay away?

Metal stocks post decent gains

The BSE Metals index gained 1.9 percent on Thursday, with stocks like Hindalco and JSW Steel posting top gains.

Hindalco shares closed 4.8 percent higher at 222.35 rupees, JSW Steel gained 3.5 percent. Jindal Steel and Power ended down 1.8 percent as the top sectoral loser.

Traders said on Thursday the BSE index, among the best performers in emerging markets this year, was likely to stabilise after a bout of profit-taking.

Do you think metal counters would perform well going ahead?

Reliance Cap drops after results

Shares in Reliance Capital fell on the first day of trade after the company declared on Saturday consolidated net profit had declined 28 pct to 1.12 billion rupees.

The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 929.25 on January 19, 2010 and a 52-week low of Rs 611.30 on 21 May 2010.

Shares in the counter ended 3 percent lower at 760 rupees.

Shares of Reliance Capital have dropped over 11 percent so far this year. Do you think it is the right time to invest in this stock?

Realty stocks fall

It was a tough day for those who invest in real estate stocks as the BSE Realty index fell 4.76 percent on Friday, in a Mumbai market that fell more than 400 points.

Sobha Developers was worst hit in the sector, ending down 6 percent. Unitech shares fell 5.9 percent, while DLF slipped 5.46 percent.

Credit Suisse on Friday downgraded DLFto underperform from neutral, citing continued weak operating performance in the September quarter.

Will you take advantage of this fall and invest in this sector?